ORION TWP. >> The second minor accident in three weeks occurred Wednesday morning in front of Orion Oaks Elementary School on Joslyn Road.

Local parents are concerned about congested traffic at the school and visibility problems while they are dropping off and picking up their children.

Heather Muzzy, a parent of two children at Orion Oaks, witnessed both accidents.

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, a vehicle was trying to turn south out of the school parking lot and was hit by a vehicle driving north on Joslyn.

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The impact of the two front ends burst both air bags, she said, although no one was seriously hurt.

“Often, the accidents happen, because there are 10, 15 cars on Joslyn trying to turn into the school,” she said.

Also recently, Muzzy saw a car heading south on Joslyn side-swiped by a car going in the same direction, she said. The accidents can occur because the drivers on Joslyn are trying to get around the lineup of cars as parents take their children to school.

Besides the traffic, there is a sign on the south side of the entryway that makes it hard to see oncoming traffic when you are turning left out of the parking lot, she said. In addition, a snow pile still blocks the view, even though the district has plowed the lot.

“We’ve also had accidents during good weather,” said Muzzy, who was rear-ended a couple of years ago as she was leaving the school.

School officials have contacted the township about the problem, but the county owns and maintains the road.

“This has been an ongoing issue for a number of years, and it’s mainly a concern during a drop off period in the morning,” said Joe St. Henry, a Lake Orion Schools spokesman.

He confirmed there were no injuries reported from the accidents, but at least one of them caused significant damage to a vehicle.

“I spoke last fall with parents who are concerned about that intersection,” said Chris Barnett, Orion Township Supervisor. “I agree. It is an issue.”

Changes will be made this year when the county resurfaces Joslyn Road between Waldon and Clarkston roads. The Road Commission for Oakland County will eliminate the northbound and southbound passing zone between the school driveway and Clarkston Road.

But there are no plans for a school zone in front of the building.

According to a letter the county sent Barnett in November, the area does not warrant a special speed zone. Bus service is provided to all the students at the school, so there are no children walking adjacent to or across the highway.

“A review of the past ten years of crash history in the vicinity of the school driveway found no significant pattern of crashes indicating there’s a safety issue at the location warranting some sort of action,” wrote Charles Keller, a traffic engineer for the county.

In addition, if speed zone signs are installed, the district would have to pay for two-thirds of the installation, which would be between $35,000 and $50,000, along with maintenance costs.

“The other problem is there are so many parents who drive their kids,” Barnett said. “If more kids took the bus, it would be less of an issue.”

According to St. Henry, about 40 percent of the more than 500 students are driven to Orion Oaks each day.

At least two people expressed concerns about driving in parking lots when asked about it on Facebook.

“I think that some people drive too fast in all parking lots, why, because it is private property and the police won’t issue a ticket,” said Erik Davenport of Lake Orion.

“Madison High is horrible,” said Wayne Reif, referring to Madison Heights Schools. “Especially when dark in December, as students have to walk thru the parking lot from 11 mile to get to the school.”

But the lot at Walton Charter Academy is clear, said Sue Carey, of Pontiac.

“It has been pretty good at Walton Charter Academy, considering there is one way in/out,” she said.